UAE’s first community hospice to boost palliative care in Abu Dhabi – News

The first state-of-the-art hospice palliative care center for terminally ill patients will be built in the capital with a unique concept of community engagement.

Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Holdings and London’s St Christopher’s Hospice, recognized as the first modern hospice and pioneer in palliative care, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard.

According to medical experts, the UAE’s first hospice will serve as a center of excellence in palliative care, providing a calm and supportive environment for patients and their families.

Dr Neil Arun Nijhawan, palliative care and palliative care consultant, and director of palliative and supportive care at Burjeel Cancer Institute, said Khaleej Times that a compassionate community will be developed in the UAE with palliative care as a focal point.

“With a compassionate community, we seek to leverage the type of social capital that exists within the community. Somehow connect patients and families who need help with people in the community, who can help and want to help, but who do not necessarily know how to do so. So this is the purpose of a compassionate community.”

Volunteers, community members or people who have cared for a family member at the end of their life can help create patient groups, make financial contributions such as paying for school fees or repatriation, even have a cup of coffee or spending quality time with a patient among various other forms of engagement.

“People who have been through these difficult times can help those who are now going through it for the first time. The compassion community does not replace the health care or social services that exist, but will complement and fill the gaps.”

Dr Nijhawan said the idea is to build a connected community across the UAE.

“We are going to develop the first hospice in the United Arab Emirates, in Abu Dhabi. My aspiration is that hospice can be the focal point for the compassionate community. We are trying to bring together all the community groups that are already doing something. Create a resource that combines these things. So it’s almost like a single access point.”

The compassionate community will focus on providing palliative care services that address the physical, emotional and psychological needs of terminally ill patients. The first-of-its-kind facility equipped with high-tech medical equipment and staffed with a dedicated team of experienced palliative care professionals is expected to be established at Burjeel Medical City or a new land.

Making a lasting change in healthcare

Sheikh Ahmed bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE Sailing and Rowing Federation, who witnessed the signing ceremony, said the partnership is an opportunity to make positive and lasting change in healthcare.

“I am confident that this partnership will not only benefit both institutions but will also contribute to serving the community. Through such collaborations, we can address challenges, seize opportunities and create a better tomorrow,” Sheikh Ahmed said.

The MoU was signed on behalf of Burjeel Holdings by Omran Al Khoori, Board Member and President of Business Development, and on behalf of St Christopher’s Hospice by Dr Heather Richardson, Director of Education, Research and End of Life. policy.

John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings, said: “This collaboration signifies our commitment to improving palliative care services in the UAE and underlines our dedication to providing the highest quality healthcare services to our community.”

Dr Heather stressed: “The collaboration between our two entities will have a lasting impact on individuals and their families facing terminal illnesses in the UAE.”

The event was attended by Professor Abdel Rahman Ahmed Omer, Group Medical Director, Burjeel Holdings, Dr. Aysha Al Mahri, Deputy CEO, Burjeel Medical City, and Naser Al Riyami, Director of Project Operations, Burjeel Holdings, among others.

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